Eliza turns one month old this week. It's hard to believe that much time has gone by already. There are a few things that I could not have done without over the past month.
Nap Nanny:
When I was pregnant I debated on whether or not to get one of these. I had several people tell me how much their baby loved the Nap Nanny, but they are pretty expensive and I really didn't want to pay a bunch of money for a glorified pillow. I had a store credit at Buy Buy Baby, so I ended up getting one, and I am so glad I did. I would have paid twice as much money for it if I had known how much Eliza would like it. She has reflux, so the fact that it's elevated is good for her. It's also great because I can put her in it when she is napping and carry it from room to room while I get things done around the house. I would highly recommend the Nap Nanny to anyone expecting. It is awesome!
Soothie Pacifier:
I tried not give Eliza a pacifier for about the first week and a half, and she really wasn't interested in one anyway, so it worked out fine. Now, she absolutely loves her Soothie pacifier. Sometimes it is the only thing that will calm her down when she is fussy. I also think it is hilarious to watch her little mouth suck on it through the hole (I know that sounds really weird, but it's fascinating).
Stroller:
Eliza loves being outside and going on walks. It's one of her favorite things to do. It's also good for my sanity too. It's great to be able to get out of the house and get some fresh air and exercise. When Eliza is fussy, all I have to do is take her on a walk and she goes right to sleep. We have a City Elite stroller, and so far I have been happy with it. Ryan did most of the research when were trying to decide what to get, and we chose this one because I will be able to run with it when Eliza gets a little older.
Sleep Sheep
The Sheep Sleep is great because not only does it put Eliza to sleep, but it also puts me to sleep. I hear crying when there is no crying, so I need a large glass of wine and the Sheep Sleep to put me to bed at night (if it is only for a few hours). Eliza's favorite sound is the whale and mine is the rain.
Aden and Anais Burp Cloths
We have a lot burp cloths, but this particular brand is my favorite because they are really soft and absorbent. They came in especaily handy last night when Eliza projectile vomited all over herself, her Nap Nanny, and the couch. After I cleaned that up, I used it to clean up the couch, the chair, the ottoman, and myself when Ryan dropped his glass of red wine on the floor. Then Eliza projectile vomited again, so I grabbed another one to clean up round two of the spit up. After undressing Eliza because she had spit up all over her second outfit, I used a third burp cloth to clean up her poop that got on the couch. Hopefully tomorrow night will be a little more uneventful, but if its not, at least we have a lot of burp cloths. :)
And a few things that can't be bought.....
A great Mom and Mother in Law:
I don't know how people who live far away from their families do it. There is no way I could have made it through the past few weeks without the help of my mom and mother in law. My mom stayed with us for a week after Eliza was born, and she was such a big help. My mom and Debi both helped with the dishes, laundry, grocery shopping, and all of the other things that I didn't have time to think about. My mom has stayed up with Eliza so I could get some sleep and Debi has come over to babysit so I can get out of the house and run errands. I can not thank them enough for all that they have done for us.
Awesome Friends:
Our friends have been amazing throughout this time. We have not been without a meal in a month, and they are still bringing us food! It has been so nice not to have to worry about cooking or picking up food. Ryan is getting spoiled by all of this good cooking. We are so blessed to have such great friends.
Wonderful Husband/Dad:
Ryan is an amazing father and he has been so much help over the past few weeks. He is great with Eliza and he is such a natural. I am so glad that Ryan's job is flexible because he is able to come home and help me during the day. I try not bother him at work, but knowing that he can be there if I need him is really comforting. I can't wait to watch him with her as she grows up!
